Win tickets to the npower League 1 Play-Off Final with Prostate Cancer UK
To celebrate their Official Charity Partnership with The Football League, Prostate Cancer UK are offering ten pairs of free tickets for the npower League 1 Play-Off Final at Wembley.
To enter text FL YEOVIL to 82772
And for £3 you could be on the way to Wembley and we could be on the way to cracking prostate cancer.
Runner up prizes include signed match balls and shirts for your club. As we can’t all go to Wembley can we?
The proceeds we receive will go towards supporting a quarter of a million men living with disease in the UK and finding answers into disease which is killing 10,000 men a year. Simply put, it’s the most common cancer in men and we need your help.
Together we can crack it.
To enter text FL YEOVIL to 82772
www.prostatecanceruk.org/footballTo enter costs just £3 and this will appear on your next mobile phone bill. For full terms & conditions visit
Win the chance to power your club to promotion with Powerade
Powerade are giving fans of the 12 clubs that qualify for the Play-Off Finals the opportunity to win 2 x VIP tickets to the Championship/League1/League2 Play-Off Final, as well as seeing their motivational message of support appear on their team’s Powerade Sports Bottles. Fans will be able to enter the competition on Twitter by tweeting their motivational message using the hashtag #PowerOn.
How to enter
Example tweet – You have more power than you think #PowerOn @ytfcofficial
The prize
If selected, your motivational message will feature on the very Powerade bottles your club’s players will use during the Play-Off Final. Your words will directly motivate them when they need it most.Not only that but you will win 2 x VIP tickets to the Play-Off Final itself.
The fans of clubs that don’t make their division’s Play-Off Final won’t miss out as there will still be the chance to win a signed shirt or ball from their team.
Dates
For League 1 and 2 clubs the competition will run from Monday 29th April until Thursday 9th May.
For Championship clubs the competition will run from Monday 6th May – Sunday 19th May
The Yeovil Town Ticket Office is experiencing an unusually high volume of calls for Play Off and Season Tickets.
Former Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba is appealing for Yeovil fans to ‘Run for Muamba’ at this year’s Bupa Great Manchester Run.
The 25-year-old is the official starter for this year’s event and has urged football fanatics from Yeovil to join him in their club colours on the starting line come May 26.
Muamba is hoping to recruit a runner to representeach of the 92 football league clubsin a show of unity and to celebrate his return to health.
The ex-Bolton Wanderers midfielder almost died after he collapsed with sudden cardiac arrest while playing against Tottenham last year, but has astounded medics with his recovery.
Muamba said: “I am calling on all football fans to put their rivalry and differences aside and unite to raise money for great causes across the UK.It’s amazing what can be achieved when we do this.
“I am delighted to be involved in this fantastic event and I urge people across the UK to sign-up and get involved too. You can raise money for a great cause, or you can do it just to keep fit – whatever your motivation, I look forward to waving you off at the starting line on May 26.”
Muamba was forced to retire from football following the incident but his popularity in the professional game remains very strong. In recognition of this, a team of 25 runners – one for each year of his life – will also take part in the Bupa Great Manchester Run.
The team, which will include Bolton Wanderers club chaplain, Phil Mason, will run for the Arrhythmia Alliance ‘Hearts and Goals’ campaign, which helps place lifesaving AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in communities.
David Hart, Communications Director of Nova, the organisers of the Bupa Great Manchester Run, said: “We are really thrilled that Fabrice has accepted our invitation and we’d love to see football fans showing their support for both him and ‘Hearts and Goals’ at the Bupa Great Manchester Run.
“Like everybody else, we were willing Fabrice to pull through last March and the fact that he is here is a real cause for celebration.”
Previous honorary starters of the Bupa Great Manchester Run, which is televised live on BBC television, include Sir Alex Ferguson, Andrew Flintoff, Jess Ennis, Victoria Pendleton, Sir Bobby Charlton, Amir Khan and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.
To support runners taking part in the event for the Arrhythmia Alliance ‘Hearts and Goals’ Campaign, donations can be made by text using JustTextGiving by Vodafone.
To donate £3 text FABS25 £3 to 70070 to help ensure all communities have public-access defibrillators and more people in the UK are AED and CPR trained. The text is free to send and 100% of every penny donated goes to charity. Gift Aid can easily be added.
Further details and entry is available at www.greatrun.org/Manchester with entries being accepted on a first come, first served basis until the limit of 40,000 is achieved. Football fans who want to ‘Run for Muamba’ should email details to RunForMuamba@greatrun.org
The Yeovil Town Football Club end of season awards were presented after Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Crewe and proved to be an almost clean sweep for striker Paddy Madden.
Only three other players featured and they were Dan Burn, Jamie McAllister and Marek Stech. A gallery of pictures is attached to this story and the full list of winners is set out below.
Congratulations to all the winners as a special plane has been ordered to transport all of Paddy’s trophies back to Dublin!
Western Gazette Player of the Year-Paddy Madden
Cary Glovers Player of the Year- Paddy Madden
The Away Travel Club – Paddy Madden, Runner up – Jamie McAllister
Bobby Hamilton Young Player – Dan Burn
Andy Stone Memorial Trophy – Paddy Madden
Yeovil Town DSA – Paddy Madden, Runner Up-Marek Stech
Community Sports Trust Player of the Year – Marek Stech
Striker Paddy Madden more or less swept the board with the end of season awards.
The popular Irishman won six awards much to the delight of the crowd who had stayed on to witness the presentations after the 1-0 win over Crewe.
Goalkeeper Marek Stech and on loan defender Dan Burn also picked up awards.
A full list of winners and photos will appear on ytfc.net soon.
Fourteen year old Sam Cornelius – Light hasn’t been feeling that great lately so the Yeovil Town DSA decided he needed cheering up!
Latvian central defender Vitalijs Maksimenko has extended his loan with the club from Brighton to take in the Play-Off matches. With the club’s other loan central defender Dan Burn currently injured manager Gary Johnson has acted quickly to avoid a shortage of defenders.
Central defender Dan Burn has had to return to his parent club Fulham for treatment to an ankle ligament injury he picked up in the 2-0 victory at Stevenage.
Would supporters please note that the Yeovil Town Ticket Office will be staying open for an hour after the Crewe match on Saturday for any new or renewing season ticket applications to be processed.
Yeovil Town’s chances of automatic promotion suffered a severe dent when they went down to a Matt Smith goal at Oldham’s Boundary Park tonight.
Billed as a battle of the Johnsons, with the two sides managed by father and son Gary and Lee, the only goal of the game came in first half stoppage time from the Latics lanky striker who rose to flick home a header from a Lee Croft corner.
In a match lacking in real entertainment but sparking into life occasionally, it was young Lee who took the family managerial honours with the win that almost secures their own League One future.
The result leaves the Glovers five points adrift of an automatic promotion berth with two games remaining, needing a set of unlikely results to help them into the top two.Town’s boss Gary lined up against his son Lee for the first time as managerial rivals and was forced into two changes from the side that beat Stevenage 2-0 at the weekend.
Dan Burn’s red card saw him sit out for two games, the first of which was tonight, while midfielder Dominic Blizzard cried off ill. QPR loanee Angelo Balanta returned after his own illness to take up a position in right midfield, Kevin Dawson moving inside and Richard Hinds dropped into the back four in Burn’s place.
Sam Foley chested down and volleyed just wide early on and top scorer Paddy Madden scuffed a shot wide soon after and Balanta shot wide when in a good position on twenty minutes in a first half almost devoid of real exciting play.
Hinds proved his worth with a fantastic clearance off the goal line from Matt Smith’s header then the pair tussled in the box in a 50/50 battle with ref Jeremy Simpson waved away Latics optimistic penalty claims.
Smith then went close with a header from another Croft cross and with the home side playing at a high tempo reminiscent of his father’s teams, they went even closer just before half time when Marek Stech produced a brilliant one handed diving save to push David Mellor’s effort away for a corner.
The respite was brief though as Croft’s corner was nodded home from close range by Smith for a half time lead.Johnson senior shuffled his pack at half time withdrawing Balanta and introducing Gavin Williams and the Welshman had Yeovil’s first second half chance but his shot was way off target.
His night then got worse when he was shown a yellow card for tugging the shirt of Croft as he raced away.Jamie McAllister and debutant Vitalijs Maksimenko came on for Hinds and Foley with twenty minutes to go but the remainder of the game showed the odd bright spark but no sign of the two goals needed to realistically keep the Glovers’ automatic promotion hopes alive.
Madden shot straight at keeper Dean Bouzanis and Maksimenko headed down and over the crossbar from Ed Upson’s free kick.
Controversy arrived with four minutes left when Latics sub Kirk Millar lunged late and wildly at Byron Webster with a challenge that some referees would have issued a red card for but the official opted to show his fifth of seven yellow cards shown tonight.
James Hayter went close late on with a shot deflected over the bar by an Oldham defender but aside from Maksimenko’s late yellow card, there were no further incidents and the game ended with the extra Yorkshire pudding reserved for the 31-year-old Lee!
Yeovil Town’s chances of automatic promotion suffered a severe dent when they went down to a Matt Smith goal at Oldham’s Boundary Park tonight.
Billed as a battle of the Johnsons, with the two sides managed by father and son Gary and Lee, the only goal of the game came in first half stoppage time from the Latics lanky striker who rose to flick home a header from a Lee Croft corner.
In a match lacking in real entertainment but sparking into life occasionally, it was young Lee who took the family managerial honours with the win that almost secures their own League One future.
The result leaves the Glovers five points adrift of an automatic promotion berth with two games remaining, needing a set of unlikely results to help them into the top two.Town’s boss Gary lined up against his son Lee for the first time as managerial rivals and was forced into two changes from the side that beat Stevenage 2-0 at the weekend.
Dan Burn’s red card saw him sit out for two games, the first of which was tonight, while midfielder Dominic Blizzard cried off ill. QPR loanee Angelo Balanta returned after his own illness to take up a position in right midfield, Kevin Dawson moving inside and Richard Hinds dropped into the back four in Burn’s place.
Sam Foley chested down and volleyed just wide early on and top scorer Paddy Madden scuffed a shot wide soon after and Balanta shot wide when in a good position on twenty minutes in a first half almost devoid of real exciting play.
Hinds proved his worth with a fantastic clearance off the goal line from Matt Smith’s header then the pair tussled in the box in a 50/50 battle with ref Jeremy Simpson waved away Latics optimistic penalty claims.
Smith then went close with a header from another Croft cross and with the home side playing at a high tempo reminiscent of his father’s teams, they went even closer just before half time when Marek Stech produced a brilliant one handed diving save to push David Mellor’s effort away for a corner.
The respite was brief though as Croft’s corner was nodded home from close range by Smith for a half time lead.Johnson senior shuffled his pack at half time withdrawing Balanta and introducing Gavin Williams and the Welshman had Yeovil’s first second half chance but his shot was way off target.
His night then got worse when he was shown a yellow card for tugging the shirt of Croft as he raced away.Jamie McAllister and debutant Vitalijs Maksimenko came on for Hinds and Foley with twenty minutes to go but the remainder of the game showed the odd bright spark but no sign of the two goals needed to realistically keep the Glovers’ automatic promotion hopes alive.
Madden shot straight at keeper Dean Bouzanis and Maksimenko headed down and over the crossbar from Ed Upson’s free kick.
Controversy arrived with four minutes left when Latics sub Kirk Millar lunged late and wildly at Byron Webster with a challenge that some referees would have issued a red card for but the official opted to show his fifth of seven yellow cards shown tonight.
James Hayter went close late on with a shot deflected over the bar by an Oldham defender but aside from Maksimenko’s late yellow card, there were no further incidents and the game ended with the extra Yorkshire pudding reserved for the 31-year-old Lee!
The Football League have announced that next season’s fixtures will be released on Wednesday 19th June at 9am.
The npower League One Play-Off’s have been scheduled for the following dates:
1st Leg: Friday 3rd.May with a 19.45 kick off and Saturday 4th. May with a 17.20 kick off
2nd.Leg: Monday 6th. May with either a 13.30 Kick off or 16.30 Kick off
As soon as it is clear who and when Yeovil Town will be playing we will post it here on the official club web site.
TICKET OFFICE OPENING
The Ticket Office will be open on Sunday 28th. April from 10.00 – 15.00 for the purchase of Early Bird Season Tickets and the Home Leg Play-Off Tickets.
Season Ticket holders can purchase their usual seats for the Play-Off game up to close of play on Tuesday evening at 18.00. After that all seats will go on general sale.
Ticket Office Opening Hours:
Sunday 28th. April – 10.00 – 15.00
Monday 29th. April – 9.00 – 18.00
Tuesday 30th. April – 9.00 – 18.00
Wednesday 1st.May – 9.00 – 18.00
Thursday 2nd.May – 9.00 – 18.00
For any further information please telephone the Ticket Office 01935 847888 during normal working hours.
E Mail: ticketoffice@ytfc.net
Bury FC have sent us the following message:
"As is now customary at Gigg Lane, the club will be paying their respect to all supporters and former employees of the club that have sadly passed away during the course of the season.
Before the final game of the season v Yeovil Town, the Shakers will hold a minute’s applause as a name of those that have passed away are read over the PA system, and displayed on the scoreboard.
In order that the list of names can be compiled, we are asking you to submit names to the club by emailing us at media@buryfc.co.uk.
We’ll also be dedicating a page in the programme to those that have left us."
Bury would like to offer the occasion to Yeovil Town supporters who may have lost a loved one recently.
So if anybody is interested you are requested to e mail Bury on the link above.
Away at Reading FC Women (Tadley Callena FC, Reading ) FA Women’s Premier League. 07 April 2013, 2.00pm kick off.
Next Match:
Mike Hall (Wellington)
Referee:
1-0 (Grace Rapp – 72)
Goals:
Cornwall, Osman, Grogan
Substitutes Not Used:
Howard, Brazell, Edwards Williams, Keehan, Whitton, Radburn, Cook, Bray, Lawton (Osman – 75), Rapp
Yeovil Town Ladies:
”It was difficult in a game like this for us to pick out any individual player as the whole squad worked so hard to get this result, but the players player award deservingly went to Jade Radburn who dominated midfield and caused Millwall much frustration with her ball winning in the middle of the park.”
”This win has come at a crucial time as there is still plenty to play for. Our ladies now have a run of five away games in a league and it is still open after stealing points from top of the league Millwall. Next week we will face second place Reading Ladies, and if we get a result against them it will make things really interesting in the race for promotion. We now have the best form in the league with five straight wins, but we have to earn every result and will take each game at a time to try and finish as high as mathematically possible.
Manager Sarah Lawler said after the match: “This the game reflected the desire this group of players have to perform and work for each other. We were so proud of how they kept their lead despite the pressure from the opposition, and felt they deserved to come away with three points given the effort and discipline they all showed.
The second half started with a wakeup call for the home side when Millwall rattled the bar from a free kick. This spurred Yeovil to get a grip of the game and play more directly. After a quick switch of wide players Cook cleverly flicked the ball into the six yard box where Rapp bravely threw her body into a challenge across the defender and poke the ball around the ‘keeper to score. This galvanised the Glovers who went on to display a fantastic team effort to defend their lead for over thirty minutes, and also had a couple more chances to further their score. In the last ten minutes Shannon Osman replaced Lorton who had put in a good shift. To freshen up the pressure Yeovil had to hold on the ball as the opposition did not give up and pushed them to the whistle with a great example of Premier League football for the supporters.
At half time Yeovil knew there wasn’t much between the two sides and it would take massive concentration at the back to keep a clean sheet, and real determination to push on and try to create more chances to punish Millwall.
The Glovers soon responded to this pressure by getting the ball down and dominating midfield areas with player of the match Jade Radburn playing exceptionally to break up attacks alongside Kirsty Whitton. The Glovers were seeing more possession towards the end of the half and built up a few great chances with excellent crosses from top goal scorer Laura Bray and Katie Cook, but Grace Rapp and Justine Lorton could not get a shot in. Lorton caused Millwall real trouble in the first half with her trademark moves, and managed to create space to pass and cross, but no end product could be produced.
It didn’t take long for Millwall to try and spoil Yeovil’s excellent league form by winning three corners in the space of fifteen minutes, but the Glovers remained calm and organised to deflect any pressure. Millwall’s power house and top goal scorer Emma Whitter managed to muscle through to shoot which was well saved by keeper Beth Howard. Millwall continued to press and stretch the home side, but the back four of Emma Brazell, Rosie Williams, Michelle Keehan and skipper Rachael Edwards were solid and protected the Yeovil goal valiantly, with Howard organising in behind. Early in the game there were a number of corners and crosses flying across the home side’s 18 yard box but Yeovil managed to control the pressure and the experience of skipper Edwards and the long serving Brazell showed.
Due to an excellent cup run and some poor weather this was Yeovil’s first league game in 2013. Millwall are a top side, so Yeovil’s team selection was a statement showing that the management has great belief in the squad by calling up four players who’s preferred position is centre forward starting as the front two and wide players to go for nothing less than three points.
GRACE Rapp scored a sensational second half goal at Wells on Sunday as Yeovil Town Ladies returned to league action in style with a memorable 1-0 victory over top of the table Millwall Lionesses.
Enter the Powerade Fives 2013 tournament to win a training session with a player from your favourite Football League club.
This year Powerade is giving the winners of the Powerade Fives 2013 tournament the chance to train like pro’s with a player from a Football League club of their choice*. Not only will the entire team experience dedicated and focused coaching from a professional Football League player, they’ll also receive Powerade training kit and a year’s supply of Powerade.
And that’s not all that’s on offer at this year’s tournament. Each player who enters the tournament will be taking home their own personalised Powerade Sports Bottle**. as used by the players of the Football League. The 42 Regional Finalist teams will be awarded trophies, free Powerade, professional hydration advice from the Powerade Sports Scientists and the chance to compete for further prizes in a unique power based challenge.
For the 16 teams who battle their way to the final, they will receive personalised football shirts including unique team crests and the chance to compete for the prestigious Powerade Fives 2013 trophy.
http://www.goalsfootball.co.uk/Football/PromotionPowerade2013.aspx?event=Powerade2013For your chance to be there this summer enter at
and register before May 3rd 2013 to receive your free personalised Sports Bottle at your qualifying heat.
Yeovil Town’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration, held at Westlands Sports and Social Club, proved a great success with over 275 people attending the event.
A large contingent of the winning squad that took the club into the Football League, after a 108 year wait, attended including: Adam Lockwood, Colin Miles, Nick Crittenden, Roy O’Brien, Steve Collis, Kirk Jackson, Chris Weale, Darren Way, Terry Skiverton, Chris Giles, Gavin Williams, Lee Johnson, Tom White and of course The Gaffer, Gary Johnson.
Abdou El Kholti attended the match against Shrewsbury on the Saturday but had to return home on Sunday.
The evening opened with an introduction from The Gaffer and chairman John Fry and was followed by a thirty minute preview of the club’s new DVD “History in the making” .
A few questions to the squad was followed by our resident comedian Jimmy Quinn and yes for those who wondered he did do the poppadum joke for probably the 100th. Time, much to Terry Skiverton’s annoyance!!
The night ended with a special appearance of Elvis, the King of Rock n Roll, direct from Gracelands.
Above all else though the evening was a great slice of nostalgia for everyone that attended and brought back some great memories.
How unique would it be if the team was able to achieve promotion the The Championship, ten years on from their promotion to the Football League itself.
It would prove to be a truly wonderful achievement for our club.
A series of interviews with the old squad players will be appearing on the official web site over the next few days so keep an eye out for them.
Yeovil Town rose up three places to third in the npower League One table with a hard fought 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town at Huish Park this afternoon.
James Hayter had put the side one up with a tenth minute penalty that was levelled out on twenty minutes by Steve McGinn’s volley but the winner came just after the half hour when Paddy Madden struck his 23rd goal of the season. The second half was a quieter affair with neither side having too many chances though Marek Stech had to deal with a McGinn shot ten minutes from the end.
However at this stage of the season, results mean more than fluent performances and the Glovers now lie five points ahead of seventh placed Tranmere with the bonus of a game in hand as well with other results going Yeovil’s way this sunny afternoon.
It was no real surprise that manager Gary Johnson named an unchanged eleven from the side that beat Notts County 2-1 at Meadow Lane on Easter Monday. In the Shrewsbury ranks was Chris Weale, a welcome sight on the day that the club celebrated the tenth anniversary of their ascent into the Football League.
Shrewsbury started better with influential midfielder Matt Richards blazing over the crossbar from four yards out and forcing three corners in the first four minutes. And Jon Taylor should have scored when the ball was at his feet after a three-on-one break but Stech came out and blocked.
Yeovil took the lead on nine minutes when Byron Webster’s header towards goal from Matt Dolan’s corner was blocked by a Shrewsbury hand high in the air. Ref Oliver Langford pointed to the spot and James Hayter sent Weale the wrong way with a confident spot kick for his 14th goal of the campaign.
The lead didn’t last for long though as Shrewsbury levelled matters on twenty minutes. The ball came out to Steve McGinn and his swerving right foot volley left Stech helpless.
Yeovil then enjoyed a good spell with three good chances inside six minutes but failing to fully capitalise on their superiority. Madden went close twice, first shooting wide from Angelo Balanta’s ball into the channel then stretching to head a Webster through ball. Hayter then sidefooted a shot at Weale from the edge of the box as the half hour mark arrived.
On 32 minutes came the eventual winner. Hayter controlled well and laid the ball off to strike partner Madden who fired a stunning 25-yarder into the bottom corner for his 23rd of the prolific season. He nearly added a second soon after but was challenged just as he tried getting on the end of another Balanta ball in.
The second half saw little in the way of real goalmouth action at either end as the game seemed once more to be who could deal with the quirky, tricky pitch. Richards went close with a long range effort and loan striker Tom Eaves shot over after creating himself an opportunity with some clever footwork.
Weale saved from Balanta as the Glovers got a rare sight of the goal but in truth, the second period was a shadow of the first in terms of excitement. Stech had to be smart to get down and deny McGinn’s shot and he also dealt comfortably with another effort from Eaves with nine minutes to go.
The final few minutes passed without incident and the Glovers continue their rise up the third tier table with four games to go.
Yeovil Town rose up three places to third in the npower League One table with a hard fought 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town at Huish Park this afternoon.
James Hayter had put the side one up with a tenth minute penalty that was levelled out on twenty minutes by Steve McGinn’s volley but the winner came just after the half hour when Paddy Madden struck his 23rd goal of the season. The second half was a quieter affair with neither side having too many chances though Marek Stech had to deal with a McGinn shot ten minutes from the end.
However at this stage of the season, results mean more than fluent performances and the Glovers now lie five points ahead of seventh placed Tranmere with the bonus of a game in hand as well with other results going Yeovil’s way this sunny afternoon.
It was no real surprise that manager Gary Johnson named an unchanged eleven from the side that beat Notts County 2-1 at Meadow Lane on Easter Monday. In the Shrewsbury ranks was Chris Weale, a welcome sight on the day that the club celebrated the tenth anniversary of their ascent into the Football League.
Shrewsbury started better with influential midfielder Matt Richards blazing over the crossbar from four yards out and forcing three corners in the first four minutes. And Jon Taylor should have scored when the ball was at his feet after a three-on-one break but Stech came out and blocked.
Yeovil took the lead on nine minutes when Byron Webster’s header towards goal from Matt Dolan’s corner was blocked by a Shrewsbury hand high in the air. Ref Oliver Langford pointed to the spot and James Hayter sent Weale the wrong way with a confident spot kick for his 14th goal of the campaign.
The lead didn’t last for long though as Shrewsbury levelled matters on twenty minutes. The ball came out to Steve McGinn and his swerving right foot volley left Stech helpless.
Yeovil then enjoyed a good spell with three good chances inside six minutes but failing to fully capitalise on their superiority. Madden went close twice, first shooting wide from Angelo Balanta’s ball into the channel then stretching to head a Webster through ball. Hayter then sidefooted a shot at Weale from the edge of the box as the half hour mark arrived.
On 32 minutes came the eventual winner. Hayter controlled well and laid the ball off to strike partner Madden who fired a stunning 25-yarder into the bottom corner for his 23rd of the prolific season. He nearly added a second soon after but was challenged just as he tried getting on the end of another Balanta ball in.
The second half saw little in the way of real goalmouth action at either end as the game seemed once more to be who could deal with the quirky, tricky pitch. Richards went close with a long range effort and loan striker Tom Eaves shot over after creating himself an opportunity with some clever footwork.
Weale saved from Balanta as the Glovers got a rare sight of the goal but in truth, the second period was a shadow of the first in terms of excitement. Stech had to be smart to get down and deny McGinn’s shot and he also dealt comfortably with another effort from Eaves with nine minutes to go.
The final few minutes passed without incident and the Glovers continue their rise up the third tier table with four games to go.
Images from Thursday’s training session at Huish Park.
Yeovil Town have announced their decision to withdraw from the Football League’s Youth Development Scheme with effect from next season.
The scheme has proven to be too prescriptive and extremely expensive and has seriously affected the Club’s ability to continue with a Youth Development programme.
It has been an agonising decision. It had been hoped that an U18 scholarship programme would be more sustainable but the criteria the Club is expected to meet is expensive, excessively bureaucratic and requires more resources than can be reasonably provided at this time.
It is extremely disappointing to be in this position but this action has been taken in the interests of the Club’s overall viability.
Manager Gary Johnson said “The Club has worked hard to make the youth programme work but it has not been able to produce any players for the first team squad in recent years. It is harder for local lads to progress to that level now we are in League 1 and looking to compete at the upper end of that division.
“Substantial additional investment would be required to make the youth development programme effective and the funding just simply isn’t available at the moment. I have therefore advised the Board to focus the recruitment resources we do have on 18-21 year olds that have not been given the opportunity of 1st team football at Premier League and Championship clubs.”
Despite having to close the Academy, the Club remains committed to encouraging youngsters to play and improve their football skills. Coaching will therefore continue at schools in the area and through the Advanced Development Centres managed by the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust.
Manager Gary Johnson has made one change from the starting eleven that drew 0-0 with Walsall on Good Friday.
